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PLANNERS' VOICES MUST BE HEARD
See "Senator
Bennett" & "Regional Workshop"
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FAPA BILL TRACKING SUMMARY
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FAPA's
Bill Tracking Report is posted to http://www.floridaplanning.org/legislative/.
The latest summary is dated January 19, 2005. This is the first report for the upcoming 2005 Legislative Session. The report
will be updated at least every other week. Please remember that you
may check the FAPA Bill Tracking Report at any time by going to the link
provided above. You may also check the status of a bill or review
bill text and amendments from the Florida Legislature's website at http://www.leg.state.fl.us.
Please bookmark these sites for easy access.
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LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
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The
list of bills tracked by FAPA is slowly growing. Of particular
interest to date is Senator Argenziano's bill, SB
716 relating to agricultural economic development. As you may
recall, this bill was vetoed by Governor Bush and FAPA was among several
organizations calling for that veto. Unlike last year's bill, SB
716 narrows the definition of an agricultural enclave to a parcel no
larger than 7,500 acres owned by a single person or entity that meets a
certain set of criteria (you should be aware that DCA's proposed
legislation defines an agricultural enclave as no larger than 80
acres). SB
716 also does not address revisions to the Bert J. Harris, Jr.,
Private Property Rights Protection Act, which led in part to the veto of
last year's bill. FAPA is committed to working with Senator
Argenziano and the various stakeholders on this issue to pass legislation
that helps farmers maximize the value of their lands, while ensuring that
urban sprawl and the premature conversion of agricultural lands are not
the outcome. A companion bill has been filed in the house, HB
561 by Representative Pickens, which addresses similar issue but
unlike SB
716 does in fact amend the Bert
Harris Act. We encourage you to review and compare the bills.
HB
305 and SB
620 address the siting of wireless emergency telephone
facilities. As many of you will recall, this has been previously
brought before the Florida Legislature. It is a lengthy bill that
should be of interest to local governments and planners. It
addresses the collocation of wireless emergency facilities and whether
such facilities are subject to local government land development
regulations and building permit review. There are requirements and
constraints placed on both the wireless providers and local governments
and the bill should be closely watched by FAPA members.
DCA's
proposed 2005 Growth Management Bill has been released although not yet
filed with the Legislature. This 175 page proposal and its summary
are posted to FAPA's website at http://www.floridaplanning.org/legislative/.
In brief, the bill amends Chapter 163, F.S. to create priority state
interests; create priority growth areas; require local governments to
adopt visions into their comprehensive plans; streamline concurrency
requirements; encourage use of the local government certification
program; revise procedures for the adoption of comprehensive plans and
plan amendments, with much of the responsibility being delegated to
Florida's Regional Planning Councils (RPC). Furthermore, the bill
proposes to amend Chapter 186, F.S. by establishing new requirements for
RPC Strategic Regional Policy Plans including the adoption of a regional
vision as well as land use components. The bill also recommends
numerous amendments to the DRI process.
While
the bill establishes a lengthy and comprehensive listing of state
priority interests, it does not include a state vision for directing Florida's
inevitable growth and needed infrastructure investment, which we believe
to be two important missing components. Please feel free to
download and review the proposed legislation. However, please
be aware that this is a work in progress that is already undergoing
numerous revisions.
The
Senate Committee on Community Affairs has released three interim
studies. The first, Antiquated Subdivisions, has already been
drafted into legislation that will be introduced at the next Committee
meeting. The bill would require a local government to identify in
its comprehensive plan, any antiquated subdivision in which it seeks to
consolidate lots. The bill does not address the issue of eminent
domain, which proved to be quite controversial in an antiquated
subdivisions bill that failed in the final days of the 2004 Legislative
Session.
The
Committee also conducted an in-depth review of Florida's
growth management policy. Although not yet drafted into
legislation, the staff report recommends changes to the Local Government
Certification Program, the DRI program, and makes recommendations with
regard to infrastructure funding options. With regard to the
certification program, staff recommends removing the limitation on the
number of local government participants; revising the criteria for
certification to focus on several key areas; and improving incentives
available to program participants. On DRIs, the report recommends
streamlining the process to eliminate duplicate requests for information;
encouraging coordinated permitting and planning; exempting local
governments that implement certain planning practices; adjusting
thresholds; and requiring local governments to adopt boating facility
siting plans with their next EAR. The infrastructure funding option
recommendations are numerous and we encourage you to read the report at http://www.flsenate.gov/data/Publications/2005/Senate/reports/interim_reports/pdf/2005-117ca.pdf.
The Committee is expected to have a proposed committee bill by its next
meeting the week of February 7, 2005.
Finally,
prompted by FAPA's white paper on Land
Use Board of Appeals, the Senate Committee on Community Affairs
conducted a study
on the same subject. Committee staff will be developing a specific
set of recommendations in that regard to present to Committee members for
possible inclusion in a growth management bill. FAPA is working
closely with committee staff on this effort.
Your
thoughts on all of the issues and legislation discussed in this
newsletter as well as other pieces of legislation that are filed
throughout the coming months are extremely important to us and to our
ability to adequately represent the association. Please keep in
touch throughout the Legislative Session by sending your thoughts and comments
to fapa@floridaplanning.org.
--Lester
Abberger, FAPA Legislative Representative
--Sheri Coven, FAPA Executive Director
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BUDGET UPDATE
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Governor
Bush and Lt. Governor Toni Jennings, released their $61.6 billion budget
recommendation for the 2005-06 fiscal year. While the proposed budget and
budget details are posted to http://www.ebudget.state.fl.us/,
we thought that the following highlights may be of particular interest to
you:
Technical Assistance to Local Governments:
$1,800,000 GR and $1,200,000 TF
Funding is provided for assistance to local governments with the
implementation of innovative planning strategies and to enable the
department to address growth management issues of statewide
concern. These dollars will be focused on: implementation of Wekiva
River Task Force recommendations; development of new technology tools;
local government visioning; implementation of FIAM indicators, and
general assistance to local governments for growth management and
comprehensive planning initiatives.
Regional Planning Councils: $2,350,000 GR
This is continued funding for the RPCs to assist the
department with multiple planning and technical assistance
functions.
Pre-Disaster Mitigation
Program: $8,200,000 TF
Federal funding is provided for the Pre-Disaster
Mitigation Program, designed to implement measures that reduce damage and
destruction of property, including critical facilities and public
infrastructure.
Disaster Funding: $1,310,223,911 TF and
$225,993,203 GR
The executive budget recommendation includes authority for disaster-related
funding to provide local assistance in the aftermath of a number of
disasters, including hurricanes, tornados and wildfires, which have
occurred in Florida in recent years.
Communities Trust/Florida Forever:
$66,000,000 TF
The executive budget provides state grant funding for the successor
program to the Florida Communities Trust Program, Florida Forever.
Community Development Block Grant Program:
$39,942,131 TF
Federal funding is provided for the CDBG program which
provides community development grants to smaller local governments to
improve local housing, streets, utilities, and public facilities.
The program also supports downtown redevelopment and job creation.
Emergency Management Preparedness and Assistance
Program: $10,723,967 TF
The executive budget provides funding for emergency
management, preparedness, and assistance at the state and local
levels. The program consists of the County Base Grant Program to be
used toward the accomplishment of activities and goals identified by each
individual county, and the Emergency Management Competitive Grant Program
to be used to implement projects that will further state and local
management objectives.
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FAPA'S 2005 PUBLIC POLICY WORKSHOP
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A draft agenda for FAPA's 2005 Public Policy
Workshop is now posted to FAPA's website at http://www.floridaplanning.org/events/05_public_policy_workshop.asp.
The workshop will be held at the Holiday Inn Select in Tallahassee
from 8:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 16, 2005.
Please don't forget that there will be a legislative reception the
evening of February 15, 2005 from 5:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. at Sittig Hall, which is located downtown in Kleman Plaza on the ground floor of the
Florida League of Cities building. The registration deadline is February 11, 2005. Don't delay!
We
would especially like to thank our sponsors to date:
Center for Urban
and Environmental Solutions at FAU
Carlton Fields, P.A.
Creative Planning Group
David A. Theriaque, P.A.
Florida Regional Councils Association
PBS&J
Ruden McClosky Smith Shuster
& Russell P.A.
RWA Consultants, Inc.
WilsonMiller
Winchester Brothers Construction & Development, LLC
We
would also like to thank the FSU Department of Urban and Regional
Planning for its assistance with signage and equipment, and the Florida
League of Cities for its reception hall.
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SENATOR BENNETT REQUESTS INPUT ON LAND MITIGATION/BANKING
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Senator Mike Bennett, Chair of the Senate
Committee on Community Affairs is looking for ways to make the land
mitigation/land banking process work better for local and state
governments. He is asking for suggestions and input from around the
state and is especially interested in what local planners might say about
how the current system works, or doesn't work for them, including the
available state programs. Please email your
responses to fapa@floridaplanning.org as soon as
possible.
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20 YEAR GROWTH MANAGEMENT RETROSPECTIVE
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As
we approach the 20th Anniversary of the passage of Florida's
landmark growth management legislation, Secretary Cohen felt that we
should all take a moment to reflect on the successes and failures of Florida's
comprehensive planning process. Please make plans to join Secretary
Cohen and former secretaries: Dr. John DeGrove, Tom Lewis, Tom
Pelham, Linda Shelley, Steve Seibert, and Colleen Castille in a lively
discussion about the intentions and realities of living within our 20
year old comprehensive planning process.
February
10, 2005
1:30 p.m. until 4:00 p.m.
Shands Hospital - MSB Auditorium - 2nd Floor
1600 SW Archer Rd
Gainesville, FL 32601
A
reception will be held immediately following the event.
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HOUSE & SENATE REGIONAL WORKSHOPS: PLANNERS'S
VOICES MUST BE HEARD
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The
House Committee on Growth Management and the Senate Committee on
Community Affairs are each holding a set of workshops around the state to
gather information regarding Florida's growth management
laws.
Although
most of the House Workshops were held earlier this month, there is still
one more scheduled for February 4, 2005 in Ft. Myers from 1:30 p.m. until 4:30 p.m., at the Bonita Bay Club, 26660 Country
Club Drive.
The
Senate Workshops are scheduled as follows:
February
11, 2005 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
University of South Florida, Traditions Hall, USF Alumni Center, Tampa
Campus
4202 E. Fowler Avenue, Tampa, FL 33620
Contact: Jeffrey Huggins (813) 974-2660
February
18, 2005 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
South Florida Water Management District
3301 Gun Club Road, West Palm Beach, FL 33406
Contact: Frank Bernardino (561) 718-2345
February
25, 2005 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
University of West Florida, Conference Center Room C
11000 University Parkway, Pensacola, FL 32514
Contact: Trenton Taylor (850) 474-2385
The
focus of these workshops will include, but not be limited to, input from
the public and local elected officials on the following topics:
1. What should be the
goal or vision of growth management in Florida? What are we trying to accomplish
with the growth management system?
2. What role should each level
of government (state, regional, and local) and citizens play in the
growth management process?
3. How are we going to pay for
the existing infrastructure deficit in transportation, public schools,
water supply, etc...?
4. What is wrong with the
current growth management system, and how would you fix it?
FAPA MEMBERS, you must make plans to participate in these
workshops. This is your opportunity to have a direct voice in this
process. Please make plans to attend.
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FAPA EXTENDS ITS CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF
SANDRA GLENN
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Sandra
Glenn, a colleague, mentor, and friend, passed away this past Saturday at
the age of 66. Sandra was Executive Director of the East Central
Florida RPC since 1998 and she was Seminole County's first
female county commissioner. For those of us who knew her, the
Orlando Sentinel story on January 24, 2005 certainly does Sandra
justice. We will miss her. See: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/orl-locglennobit24012405jan24,1,6135100.story
Also, please visit the East Central Florida RPC's website at http://www.ecfrpc.org
for information on memorial contributions or to post comments and
condolences.
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OTHER NEWS
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Legislative leaders vow to work, not feud
Florida legislative leaders vowed to end the infighting and
tackle tough issues during their session that begins in March
Mary Ellen Klas, Miami Herald, January 20, 2005
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/10685965.htm
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Sheri Coven, Executive
Director
Florida Chapter
of the American Planning Association
2040 Delta Way, Tallahassee,
Florida 32301
Phone: 850/201-FAPA (3272)
Email: fapa@floridaplanning.org
Web Site: www.floridaplanning.org
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The Florida Chapter of APA provides statewide
leadership
in the development of sustainable
communities
by advocating excellence in
planning,
providing professional development for
its
members, and working to protect and enhance the natural and built
environments.
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Disclaimer
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